With Brandon laid to rest, parents say thanks to so many

Scott and Debbie Garner hold a picture of their son Brandon Garner, Friday afternoon, February 22, 2013. Brandon Garner, a 16-year-old West Port High School student, died when he lost control of the pickup truck he was driving on County Road 484 recently.

Published: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 6:53 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 6:53 p.m.

His parents, Scott and Debbie Garner, said their son loved his truck and constantly worked on his vehicle.

“That was his baby and his girlfriend,” Brandon's mother said.

His father, Scott Garner, said Brandon had “a passion for cleaning” the truck.

The love Brandon had for his truck was so great he once told his father that if he were to die, he wanted to die in his truck.

Brandon made that statement two weeks before he died.

Driving home from school on Valentine's Day, Brandon, 16, lost control of his pickup on the wet roadway on County Road 484 as he was heading east in the right lane and slammed into an oak tree off the side of the road, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers. The crash occurred near Marion Oaks Boulevard, not far from where he lived.

Leaving school that afternoon, Brandon had just dropped a friend off at home.

Hours before the accident, Brandon's father said his son called him from school telling him he was not feeling well and wanted to come home. His father told him he only had a few hours before school was out and if he still felt the same way on Friday, then he could stay home.

“It was the last time I ever talked with him,” said Scott Garner.

His mother said when she and her husband did not hear from Brandon after calling and texting him, they went looking for him.

Exiting Marion Oaks Boulevard and turning onto CR 484, the couple said they saw the back of their son's pickup truck and flashing lights nearby and knew something was wrong. However, they didn't know what they were about to discover would be devastating news.

The couple said that, although their son died, they were glad to know that no one else was hurt.

With funeral services for the West Port High School ninth-grader held this past Tuesday, the Garners said they wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and support. They also wanted to thank strangers who they say have approached them through their time of grief, offering an encouraging word.

Special thanks was extended to FHP Trooper Anthony Dobosiewicz, who the couple said will always be a friend to them. Dobosiewicz, they said, hugged, comforted, remained with them and answered every question they had.

A former football and baseball player, Brandon was born in Michigan and moved to Ocala when he was 5. He attended elementary, middle and eventually high school in Ocala.

His parents recalled fond memories about their son. Wearing No. 98 for his high school football team, Brandon would always look over at them while he was playing, his parents said. They attended every game, home and away, and his father especially remembers the time when his son sacked the opposing quarterback three times in one game.

“It made me so proud,” he said.

When he was younger, Brandon played baseball for a recreation league in Marion Oaks, where they lived. For at least two seasons, his team was undefeated.

Brandon, they said, was close to them and often stayed home to be with them. Home was where he felt secure, they said. Because of their closeness, Scott and Debbie said they plan on being buried next to their son, with him in the middle and them on either side.

Described as kind-hearted, Brandon stuck up for his friends who were being bullied and always found the good in people, his parents said, adding that he never liked arguments or violence.

He loved cars, his dog Dozier, playing video games, telling jokes and spending time with his older brother, Scott Garner Jr., 20.

<p>Brandon Andrew Garner got his white 2002 Chevy S-10 pickup truck when he was 15.</p><p>His parents, Scott and Debbie Garner, said their son loved his truck and constantly worked on his vehicle.</p><hr />
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<hr /><p>“That was his baby and his girlfriend,” Brandon's mother said.</p><p>His father, Scott Garner, said Brandon had “a passion for cleaning” the truck.</p><p>The love Brandon had for his truck was so great he once told his father that if he were to die, he wanted to die in his truck.</p><p>Brandon made that statement two weeks before he died.</p><p>Driving home from school on Valentine's Day, Brandon, 16, lost control of his pickup on the wet roadway on County Road 484 as he was heading east in the right lane and slammed into an oak tree off the side of the road, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers. The crash occurred near Marion Oaks Boulevard, not far from where he lived.</p><p>Leaving school that afternoon, Brandon had just dropped a friend off at home.</p><p>Hours before the accident, Brandon's father said his son called him from school telling him he was not feeling well and wanted to come home. His father told him he only had a few hours before school was out and if he still felt the same way on Friday, then he could stay home.</p><p>“It was the last time I ever talked with him,” said Scott Garner.</p><p>His mother said when she and her husband did not hear from Brandon after calling and texting him, they went looking for him.</p><p>Exiting Marion Oaks Boulevard and turning onto CR 484, the couple said they saw the back of their son's pickup truck and flashing lights nearby and knew something was wrong. However, they didn't know what they were about to discover would be devastating news.</p><p>The couple said that, although their son died, they were glad to know that no one else was hurt.</p><p>With funeral services for the West Port High School ninth-grader held this past Tuesday, the Garners said they wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and support. They also wanted to thank strangers who they say have approached them through their time of grief, offering an encouraging word.</p><p>Special thanks was extended to FHP Trooper Anthony Dobosiewicz, who the couple said will always be a friend to them. Dobosiewicz, they said, hugged, comforted, remained with them and answered every question they had.</p><p>A former football and baseball player, Brandon was born in Michigan and moved to Ocala when he was 5. He attended elementary, middle and eventually high school in Ocala.</p><p>His parents recalled fond memories about their son. Wearing No. 98 for his high school football team, Brandon would always look over at them while he was playing, his parents said. They attended every game, home and away, and his father especially remembers the time when his son sacked the opposing quarterback three times in one game.</p><p>“It made me so proud,” he said.</p><p>When he was younger, Brandon played baseball for a recreation league in Marion Oaks, where they lived. For at least two seasons, his team was undefeated.</p><p>Brandon, they said, was close to them and often stayed home to be with them. Home was where he felt secure, they said. Because of their closeness, Scott and Debbie said they plan on being buried next to their son, with him in the middle and them on either side.</p><p>Described as kind-hearted, Brandon stuck up for his friends who were being bullied and always found the good in people, his parents said, adding that he never liked arguments or violence.</p><p>He loved cars, his dog Dozier, playing video games, telling jokes and spending time with his older brother, Scott Garner Jr., 20.</p>